Toronto Star: Ford and Other Premiers Want Provincial Work Permits for Refugee Claimants. It May Not Solve Anything
July 25, 2025

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Recent proposals by provincial leaders to issue work permits to refugee claimants have prompted questions about how such a system would work in practice.
In an article published in the Toronto Star, Partner Rick Lamanna discussed the legal and logistical considerations involved, noting that while immigration is an area of shared jurisdiction, any move by provinces would require detailed planning and cooperation with the federal government. He explained that the current process already involves collaboration through programs like the provincial nominee system and noted that decentralizing work permit issuance could lead to confusion without clear coordination between levels of government.
Read more here (please note that this article may require a subscription to access).
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